CHARACTER SKETCHES OF ROMANCE, FICTION, AND THE DRAMA. (continued 10)

Redmain (Sir Magnus), governor of the town of Berwick (fifteenth century).

He was remarkable for his long red beard, and was therefore called by the English “Magnus Red-beard,” but by the Scotch, in derision, “Magnus Red-mane,” as if his beard had been a horse-mane.—Godscroft, 178.

Redmond O’Neale, Rokeby’s page, beloved by Rokeby’s daughter, Matilda, whom he marries. He turns out to be Mortham’s son and heir.—Sir W. Scott, Rokeby (1812).

Reece (Captain), R.N., of the Mantelpiece; adored by all his crew. They had feather-beds, warm slippers, hot-water cans, brown Windsor soap, and a valet to every four, for Captain Reece said, “It is my duty to make my men happy, and I will.” Captain Reece had a daughter, ten female cousins, a niece and a ma, six sisters and an aunt or two, and, at the suggestion of William Lee, the coxswain, married these ladies to his crew—“It is my duty to make my men happy, and I will.” Last of all, Captain Reece married the widowed mother of his coxswain, and they were all married on one day—“It was their duty, and they did it.”—W. S. Gilbert, The Bab Ballads (“Captain Reece, R.N.”).

Reeve’s Tale (The). Symond Symkyn, a miller of Trompington, near Cambridge, used to serve “Soler Hall College,” but was an arrant thief. Two scholars, Aleyn and John, undertook to see that a sack of corn sent to be ground was not tampered with; so one stood by the hopper, and one by the trough which received the flour. In the mean time the miller let their horse loose, and, when the young men went to catch it, purloined half a bushel of the flour, substituting meal instead. It was so late before the horse could be caught that the miller offered the two scholars a “shakedown” in his own chamber, but when they were in bed he began to belabor them unmercifully. A scuffle ensued, in which the miller, being tripped up, fell upon his wife. His wife, roused from her sleep, seized a stick, and, mistaking the bald pate of her husband for the night-cap of one of the young men, banged it so lustily that the man was almost stunned with the blows. In the mean time the two scholars made off without payment, taking with them the sack and also the half-bushel of flour, which had been made into cakes.—Chaucer, Canterbury Tales (1388).

^*_*^* Boccaccio has a similar story in his Decameron. It is also the subject of a fabliau entitled De Gombert et des Deux Clers. Chaucer borrowed his story from a fabliau given by Thomas Wright in his Anecdota Literaria, 15.

Reformation (The). It was in germ in the early Lollards, and was radiant in the works of Wycliffe.

It was present in the pulpit of Pierre de Bruys, in the pages of Arnoldo da Brescia, in the cell of Roger Bacon.

It was active in the field with Peter Revel, in the castle of Lord Cobham, in the pulpit with John Huss, in the camp with John Ziska, in the class-room of Pico di Mirandola, in the observatory of Abraham Zacuto, and the college of Antonio di Lebrija, and it burst into full light through Martin Luther.

Re´gan, second daughter of King Lear, and wife of the duke of Cornwall. Having received the half of her father’s king- she refused to entertain him with his suite. On the death of her husband, she designed to marry Edmund, natural son of the earl of Gloster, and was poisoned by her elder sister, Goneril, out of jealousy. Regan, like Goneril, is proverbial for “filial ingratitude.”—Shakespeare, King Lear (1605).

Regent Diamond (The). So called from the regent duke of Orleans. This diamond, the property of France, at first set in the crown, and then in the sword of state, was purchased in India by a governor of Madras, of whom the regent bought it for £80,000.

Regillus (The Battle of Lake). Regillus Lacus is about twenty miles east of Rome, between Gabii (north) and Lavīcum (south). The Romans had expelled Tarquin the Proud from the throne, because of the most scandalous conduct of his son Sextus, who had violated Lucretia, the wife of Collatinus. Thirty combined cities of Latium, with Sabines and Volscians, took the part of Tarquin, and marched towards Rome. The Romans met the allied army at the Lake Regillus, and here, on July 15, B.C. 499, they won the great battle which confirmed their republican constitution, and in which Tarquin, with his sons Sextus and Titus, was slain. While victory was still doubtful, Castor and Pollux, on their white horses, appeared to the Roman dictator, and fought for the Romans. The victory was complete, and ever after the Romans observed the anniversary of this battle with a grand procession and sacrifice. The procession started from the temple of Mars outside the city walls, entered by the Porta Capēna, traversed the chief streets of Rome, marched past the temple of Vesta in the Forum, and then to the opposite side of the “great square,” where they had built a temple to Castor and Pollux in gratitude for the aid rendered by them in this battle. Here offerings were made, and sacrifice was offered to the Great Twin-Brothers, the sons of Leda. Macaulay has a lay, called The Battle of the Lake Regillus, on the subject.

A very parallel case occurs in the life of Mahomet. The Koreishites had armed to put down “the prophet;” but Mahomet met them in arms, and on January 13, 624, won the famous battle of Bedr. In the Korân (ch. iii.), he tells us that the angel Gabriel, on his horse, Haïzûm, appeared on the field with 3000 “angels,” and won the battle for him.

In the conquest of Mexico, we are told that St. James appeared on his grey horse at the head of the Castilian adventurers, and led them on to victory. Bernal Diaz, who was in the battle, saw the grey horse, but fancies the rider was Francesco de Morla, though, he confesses, “it might be the glorious apostle St. James” for aught he knew.

Regimen of the School of Salerno, a collection of precepts in Latin verse, written by John of Milan, a poet of the eleventh century, for Robert, the duke of Normandy.

Reginald Archer. A refined, debonnaire sensualist, courted by women and envied by men. He wooes and marries a gentle, pure heiress, and would, as her husband, break her heart were not the evil work cut short by his death at the hands of a man whose wife Reginald has lured from her allegiance to her lawful lord.—Anne Crane Seemuller, Reginald Archer (1865).

Region of Death, (Marovsthulli), Thurr, near Delhi, fatal, from some atmospheric influence, especially about sunset.

Regno (The), Naples.

Are our wiser heads leaning towards an alliance with the pope and the Regno?—George Eliot (Marian Evans).

Reg´ulus, a Roman general, who conquered the Carthaginians (B.C. 256), and compelled them to sue for peace. While negotiation was going on, the Carthaginians, joined by Xanthippos, the Lacedemonian, attacked the Romans at Tunis, and beat them, taking Regulus prisoner. The captive was sent to Rome to make terms of peace and demand exchange of prisoners, but he used all his influence with the senate to dissuade them from coming to terms with their foe. On his return to captivity, the Cathaginians cut off his eyelids and exposed him to the burning sun, then placed him in a barrel armed with nails, which was rolled up and down a hill till the man was dead.

^*_*^* This subject has furnished Pradon and Dorat with tragedies (French), and Metastasio, the Italian poet, with an opera called Regolo (1740).

“Regulus” was a favorite part of the French actor, François J. Talma.

Rehearsal (The), a farce by George Villiers, duke of Buckingham (1671). It was designed for a satire on the rhyming plays of the time. The chief character, Bayes (1 syl.), is meant for Dryden.

The name of George Villiers, duke of Buckingham, demands cordial mention by every writer on the stage. He lived in an age when plays were chiefly written in rhyme, which served as a vehicle for foaming sentiment clouded by hyperbolê.... The dramas of Lee and Settle ... are made up of blatant couplets that emptily thundered through five long acts. To explode an unnatural custom by ridiculing it, was Buckingham’s design in The Rehearsal, but in doing this the gratification of private dislike was a greater stimulus than the wish to promote the public good.—W. C. Russell, Representative Actors.

Reichel (Colonel), in Charles XII., by J. R. Planché (1826).

Rejected Addresses, parodies on Wordsworth, Cobbett, Southey, Scott, Coleridge, Crabbe, Byron, Theodore Hook, etc., by James and Horace Smith; the copyright after the sixteenth edition was purchased by John Murray, in 1819, for £131. The directors of Drury Lane Theatre had offered a premium for the best poetical address to be spoken at the opening of the new building, and the brothers Smith conceived the idea of publishing a number of poems supposed to have been written for the occasion and rejected by the directors (1812).

“I do not see why they should have been rejected,” said a Leicestershire clergyman, “for I think some of them are very good.”—James Smith.

Reksh, Sir Rustam’s horse.

Relapse, (The), a comedy by Vanbrugh (1697). Reduced to three acts, and adapted to more modern times by Sheridan, under the title of A Trip to Scarborough (1777).

Rel´dresal, principal secretary for private affairs in the court of Lilliput, and great friend of Gulliver. When it was proposed to put the Man-mountain to death for high treason, Reldresal moved as an amendment, that the “traitor should have both his eyes put out, and be suffered to live that he might serve the nation.”—Swift, Gulliver’s Travels (“Voyage to Lilliput,” 1726).

^*_*^* Probably the dean had the Bible story of Samson and the Philistines in his thoughts.

Relics. The following relics are worthy of note, if for no other reason, because of the immense number of pilgrims who are drawn to them from all parts of the world.

1. The House of the Virgin. This is now to be seen at Loreto, a town on the Adriatic, near Ancona, whither it was miraculously transported through the air by angels in the year 1294. It had been originally brought from Nazareth to Dalmatia in 1291, but after resting there for three years was again lifted up and placed where it now stands. It is a small brick structure surrounded by a marble screen designed by Bramante and decorated with carvings and sculptures by a number of celebrated sculptors. The church in which the house stands was built over it to protect it shortly after its arrival.

2. The Holy Coat. This is the seamless coat worn by Jesus, and for which the soldiers drew lots at his crucifixion. It is described by John alone of the evangelists: “Now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.” John 19, 23. It is preserved at Treves in the cathedral, and is shown at long intervals to the faithful, attracting vast crowds of pilgrims from all parts of Europe and America. It was last shown in 1891. The village of Argenteuil, near Paris, disputes with Treves the possession of the true garment, insisting on its own superior claim, but the right of Treves is generally acknowledged by Catholics.

3. The Holy Face. According to the legend, when Jesus was on His way to Calvary, one of the women standing by, whose name was Veronica, seeing Him sinking under the weight of the cross, gave Him her handkerchief to wipe the sweat from His face. When He returned it the impression of His face was left upon the cloth, and remains distinctly to be seen at the present day.

4. The Sainte Chapelle at Paris, one of the most beautiful Gothic buildings in Europe, was built as a shrine to contain the fragment of the true Cross and a thorn from the Crown of Thorns given by Louis IX. of France (Saint Louis). These relics have since been transferred to the Treasury of Notre Dame, at Paris. The church at Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle) also contains a fragment of the true Cross. In various churches of Italy, pictures of the Virgin Mary said to have been painted by Saint Luke (a painter as well as a physician, and the patron saint of both professions) are preserved, but no one of them has any fame above the rest.

Remember, Thou Art Mortal! When a Roman conqueror entered the city in triumph, a slave was placed in the chariot to whisper from time to time into the ear of the conqueror, “Remember, thou art a man!”

Vespasian, the Roman emperor, had a slave who said to him daily as he left his chamber, “Remember, thou art a man!”

In the ancient Egyptian banquets it was customary during the feast to draw a mummy, in a car, round the banquet hall, while one uttered aloud, “To this estate you must come at last!”

When the sultan of Serendib (i.e. Ceylon) went abroad, his vizier cried aloud, “This is the great monarch, the tremendous sultan of the Indies ... greater than Solimo or the grand Mihragê!” An officer behind the monarch then exclaimed, “This monarch, though so great and powerful, must die, must die, must die!”—Arabian Nights (“Sindbad,” sixth voyage).

Remois (2 syl.), the people of Rheims, in France.

Remond, a shepherd in Britannia’s Pastorals, by William Browne (1613).

Rem´ores, birds which retard the execution of a project.

“Remores” aves in auspicio dicuntur quæ acturum aliquid remorari compellunt.—Festus, De VerborumSignificatione.

Remus. (See Romulus and Remus.)

Remus (Uncle). Hero of many of Joel Chandler Harris’s tales of negro-life. His fables of “Brer Rabbit,” “Brer Bear,” and the like are curious relics of African folk-lore (1886).

Re´naud, one of the paladins of Charlemagne, always described with the properties of a borderer, valiant, alert, ingenious, rapacious, and unscrupulous. Better known in the Italian form Rinaldo (q.v.).

Renault, a Frenchman, and one of the chief conspirators in which Pierre was concerned. When Jaffier joined the conspiracy, he gave his wife, Belvide´ra, as surety of his fidelity, and a dagger to be used against her if he proved unfaithful. Renault attempted the honor of the lady, and Jaffier took her back in order to protect her from such insults. The old villain died on the wheel, and no one pitied him.—T. Otway, Venice Preserved (1682).

René, the old king of Provence, father of Queen Margaret of Anjou (wife of Henry VI. of England). A minstrel-monarch, friend to the chase and tilt, poetry, and music. Thiebault says he gave in largesses to knights-errant and minstrels more than he received in revenue (ch. xxix.).—Sir W. Scott, Anne of Geierstein (time, Edward IV.).

René (2 syl.), the hero and title of a romance by Châteaubriand (1801). It was designed for an episode to his Génie du Christianisme (1802). René is a man of social inaction, conscious of possessing a superior genius, but his pride produces in him a morbid bitterness of spirit.

René [Leblanc], notary public of Grand Pré, in Arcadia (Nova Scotia). Bent with age, but with long yellow hair flowing over his shoulders. He was the father of twenty children, and had a hundred grandchildren. When Acadia was ceded by the French to England, George II. confiscated the goods of the simple colonists, and drove them into exile. René went to Pennsylvania, where he died, and was buried.—Longfellow, Evangeline (1849).

Renton (Dr.). A Boston physician, whose best friend, dying, leaves a letter charging Renton, “In the name of the Saviour, be true and tender to mankind.” The doctor believes himself to be haunted by the ghost of this man, intent upon inforcing the admonition, and the needy and the afflicted profit by the hallucination.—William D. O’Connor, The Ghost.

Rentowel (Mr. Jabesh), a covenanting preacher.—Sir W. Scott, Waverley (time, George II.).

With vehemence of some pulpit-drumming Gowkthrapple, or “precious” Mr. Jabesh Rentowel.—Carlyle.

Renzo and Lucia, the hero and heroine of an Italian novel by Alessandro Manzoni, entititled The Betrothed Lover (“I Promessi Sposi”). This novel contains an account of the Bread Riot and plague of Milan. Cardinal Borro´meo is also introduced. There is an English translation (1827).

Republican Queen, (The), Sophie Charlotte, wife of Frederick I. of Prussia.

Resequenz, wily major-domo to the duke of Romagna, audacious, unscrupulous and treacherous.—William Waldorf Astor, Valentino (1886).

Resolute (The), John Florio, philologist (1545?-1625). Translated Montaigne’s Essays and wrote a French and English Dictionary called a World of Words. One of the few autographs of Shakespeare is in a copy of Florio’s Montaigne in the British Museum.

^*_*^* Florio is said to have been the prototype of Shakespeare’s “Holofernês,” in Love’s Labour’s Lost.

Resolute Doctor (The), John Baconthorpe (*-1346).

^*_*^* Guillaume Durandus de St. Pourçain was called “the Most Resolute Doctor (1267-1332).

Restless (Sir John), the suspicious husband of a suspicious wife.

Lady Restless, wife of Sir John. As she has a fixed idea that her husband is inconstant, she is always asking the servants, “Where is Sir John?” “Is Sir John returned?” “Which way did Sir John go?” “Has Sir John received any letters?” “Who has called?” etc.; and, whatever the answer, it is to her a confirmation of her surmises.—A. Murphy, All in the Wrong (1761).

Reuben Dixon, a village schoolmaster of “ragged lads.”

Reuben and Seth, servants of Nathan ben Israel, the Jew at Ashby, a friend of Isaac and Rebecca.—Sir W. Scott, Ivanhoe (time, Richard I.).

Reullu´ra (i.e. “beautiful star”), the wife of Aodh, one of the Culdees, or primitive clergy of Scotland, who preached the gospel of God in Io´na, an island south of Staffa. Here Ulvfa´gre, the Dane, landed, and, having put all who opposed him to death, seized Aodh, bound him in iron, carried him to the church, and demanded where the treasures were concealed. Just then appeared a mysterious figure all in white, who first unbound Aodh, and then taking the Dane by the arm, led him up to the statue of St. Columb, which immediately fell and crushed him to death. Then turning to the Norsemen, the same mysterious figure told them to “go back and take the bones of their chief with them;” adding, whoever lifted hand in the island again, should be a paralytic for life. “The “saint” then transported the remnant of the islanders to Ireland; but when search was made for Reullura, her body was in the sea, and her soul in heaven.—Campbell, Reullura.

Reutha´mir, the principal man of Balclutha, a town belonging to the Britons on the river Clyde. His daughter, Moina, married Clessammor (Fingal’s uncle on the mother’s side). Reuthamir was killed by Combal (Fingal’s father) when he attacked Balcutha and burned it to the ground.—Ossian, Carthon.

Reutner (Karl), young German, serving in the Federal army, finds, on the Gettysburg battle-field, a four-leafed clover, and waves it in the air. The gesture attracts a sharp-shooter, and Reutner falls insensible. He is taken from hospital to prison, and languishes for weeks, in delirium, all the while haunted by a vision of a woman, dark-eyed and beautiful, who brings him handfuls of four-leaved clover. When he reaches home, he recognizes her in Margaret Warren, a guest in his father’s house. The betrothal-ring bears a four-leaved clover of green enamel, set in diamonds.—Helen Hunt Jackson, A Four-Leaved Clover (1886).

Rev´eller (Lady), cousin of Valeria, the blue-stocking. Lady Reveller is very fond of play, but ultimately gives it up, and is united to Lord Worthy.—Mrs. Centlivre, The Basset Table (1706).

Revenge (The), a tragedy by Edward Young (1721). (For the plot, see Zanga.)

Revenge (The), the ship under the command of Sir Richard Grenville, anchored at Flores, in the Azores, when a fleet of fifty-three Spanish ships hove in sight. Lord Thomas Howard, with six men-of-war, sailed off; but Sir Richard stood his ground. He had only a hundred men, but with this crew and his one ship, he encountered the Spanish fleet. The fight was very obstinate. Some of the Spanish ships were sunk, and many shattered; but Sir Richard at length was wounded, and the surgeon shot while dressing the wound. “Sink the ship, master gunner!” cried Sir Richard; “sink the ship, and let her not fall into the hands of Spain!” But the crew were obliged to yield, and Sir Richard died. The Spaniards were amazed at Grenville’s pluck, and gave him all honors, as they cast his body into the sea. The Revenge was then manned by Spaniards, but never reached the Spanish coast, for it was wrecked in a tempest, and went down with all hands aboard.—Tennyson, The Revenge, a ballad of the fleet (1878).

^*_*^* This sea-fight is the subject of one of Froude’s essays.

Canon Kingsley has introduced it in Westward Ho! where he gives a description of Sir Richard Grenville.

Lord Bacon says the fight “was memorable even beyond credit, and to the height of heroic fable.”

Mr. Arber published three interesting contemporary documents relating to The Revenge, by Sir Walter Raleigh.

Gervase Markham wrote a long poem on the subject (two hundred stanzas of eight lines each).

Revenge (The Palace of), a palace of crystal, provided with everything agreeable to life except the means of going out of it. The fairy Pagan made it, and when Imis rejected his suit because she loved Prince Philax, he shut them up in this palace out of revenge. At the end of a few years Pagan had his revenge, for Philax and Imis longed as eagerly for a separation as they had once done to be united.—Comtesse D’Aunoy, Fairy Tales (“Palace of Revenge,” 1682).

Revenons à nos Moutons, let us return to the matter in hand. This phrase comes from an old French comedy of the fifteenth century, entitled L’Avocat Patelin, by Blanchet. A clothier, giving evidence against a shepherd who had stolen some sheep, is for ever running from the subject to talk about some cloth of which Patelin, his lawyer, had defrauded him. The judge from time to time pulls him up by saying, “Well, well! and about the sheep?” “What about the sheep!” (See Patelin.)

Revolutionary Songs. By far the most popular were:

1. La Marseillaise, both words and music by Rouget de Lisle (1792).

2. Veillons au Salut de l’Empire, by Adolphe S. Boy (1791). Music by Dalayra. Very strange that men whose whole purpose was to destroy the empire should go about singing “Let us guard it!”

3. Ça Ira, written to the tune of Le Carillon National, in 1789, while preparations were being made for the Fête de la Féderation. It was a great favorite with Marie Antoinette, who was for ever “strumming the tune on her harpsichord.”

4. Chant du Départ, by Marie Joseph de Chénier (1794). Music by Méhul. This was the most popular next to the Marseillaise.

5. La Carmagnole. “Madame Veto avait promis de faire égorger tout Paris ...” (1792). Probably so called from Carmagnole, in Piedmont. The burden of this dancing song is:

6. La Vengeur, a spirited story, in verse, about a ship so called. Lord Howe took six of the French ships, June 1, 1794; but La Vengeur was sunk by the crew, that it might not fall into the hands of the English, and went down while the crew shouted “Vive la République!” The story bears a strong resemblance to that of “The Revenge,” Sir Richard Grenville’s ship. See ante.

In the second Revolution we have:

1. La Parisienne, called “The Marseillaise of 1830,” by Casimir Delavigne, the same year.

2. La France a l’Horreur du Servage, by Casimir Delavigne (1843).

3. Le Champ de Bataille, by Emile Debreaux (about 1830).

The chief political songs of Béranger are: Adieux de Marie Stuart, La Cocarde Blanche, Jacques, La Déesse, Marquis de Carabas, Le Sacre de Charles le Simple, Le Senateur, Le Vieux Caporal, and Le Vilain.

In the American Revolution the air of Yankee Doodle was sung to various sets of words, all derisive of the British and exhilarating to the Americans.

In the Civil War of the United States The Star-Spangled Banner, Hail Columbia, Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! and Julia Ward Howe’s Battle Hymn of the Republic to the air of John Brown’s Body Lies Mouldering in the Ground were favorites with the Federal troops.

Among the Confederates, Dixie, and Maryland, My Maryland, were most popular.

Rewcastle (Old John), a Jedburgh smuggler, and one of the Jacobite conspirators with the laird of Ellieslaw.—Sir W. Scott, The Black Dwarf (time, Anne).

Reynaldo, a servant to Polonius.—Shakespeare, Hamlet (1596).

Reynard the Fox, the hero of the beast-epic so called. This prose poem is a satire on the state of Germany in the Middle Ages. Reynard represents the Church; Isengrin, the wolf (his uncle), typifies the baronial element; and Nodel, the lion, stands for the regal power. The plot turns on the struggle for supremacy between Reynard and Isengrin. Reynard uses all his endeavors to victimize every one, especially his uncle, Isengrin, and generally succeeds.—Reinecke Fuchs (thierepos, 1498).

Reynardine (3 syl.), eldest son of Reynard the Fox. He assumed the names of Dr. Pedanto and Crabron.—Reynard the Fox (1498).

Reynold of Montalbon, one of Charlemagne’s paladins.

Reynolds (Sir Joshua), is thus described by Goldsmith:

N.B.—Sir Joshua Reynolds was hard of hearing, and used an ear-trumpet.

Rez´io (Dr.) or “Pedro Rezio of Ague´ro,” the doctor of Barata´ria, who forbade Sancho Panza to taste any of the meats set before him. Roast partridge was “forbidden by Hippoc´ratês.” Podri´da was “the most pernicious food in the world.” Rabbits were “a sharp-haired diet.” Veal was “prejudicial to health.” But, he said, the governor might eat “a few wafers, and a thin slice or two of quince.”—Cervantes, Don Quixote, II. iii. 10 (1615).

Rhadaman´thus, son of Jupiter and Euro´pa. He reigned in the Cycladês with such partiality, that at death he was made one of the judges of the infernal regions.

Rhampsini´tos, king of Egypt, usually called Ram´esês III., the richest of the Egyptian monarchs, who amassed 72 millions sterling, which he secured in a treasury of stone. By an artifice of the builder, he was robbed every night.—Herodotus, ii. 121.

A parallel tale is told of Hyrieus [Hy´.ri.uce] of Hyrĭa. His two architects, Trophōnios and Agamēdês (brothers), built his treasure-vaults, but left one stone removable at pleasure. After great loss of treasure, Hyrieus spread a net, in which Agame´des was caught. To prevent recognition, Trophonios cut off his brother’s head.—Pausanias, Itinerary of Greece, ix. 37, 3.

A similar tale is told of the treasure-vaults of Augĕas, king of Elis.

Rha´sis or Mohammed Aboubekr ibn Zakaria el Razi, a noted Arabian physician. He wrote a treatise on small-pox and measles, with some 200 other treatises (850-923).

Rhea’s Child. Jupiter is so called by Pindar. He dethroned his father, Saturn.

Rheims (The Jackdaw of), The cardinal-archbishop of Rheims made a great feast, to which he invited all the joblillies of the neighborhood. There were abbots and prelates, knights and squires, and all who delighted to honor the great panjandrum of Rheims. The feast over, water was served, and his lordship’s grace, drawing off his turquoise ring, laid it beside his plate, dipped his fingers into the golden bowl, and wiped them on his napkin; but when he looked to put on his ring, it was nowhere to be found. It was evidently gone. The floor was searched, the plates and dishes lifted up, the mugs and chalices, every possible and impossible place was poked into, but without avail. The ring must have been stolen. His grace was furious, and, in dignified indignation, calling for bell, book, and candle, banned the thief, both body and soul, this life and for ever. It was a terrible curse, but none of the guests seemed the worse for it—except, indeed, the jackdaw. The poor bird was a pitiable object, his head lobbed down, his wings draggled on the floor, his feathers were all ruffled, and with a ghost of a caw he prayed the company follow him; when lo! there was the ring, hidden in some sly corner by the jackdaw as a clever practical joke. His lordship’s grace smiled benignantly, and instantly removed the curse; when lo! as if by magic, the bird became fat and sleek again, perky and impudent, wagging his tail, winking his eye, and cocking his head on one side, then up he hopped to his old place on the cardinal’s chair. Never after this did he indulge in thievish tricks, but became so devout, so constant at feast and chapel, so well-behaved at matins and vespers, that when he died he died in the odor of sanctity, and was canonized, his name being changed to that of Jim Crow.—Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (“Jackdaw of Rheims,” 1837).

Rheingold. The treasure given Siegfried by the dwarfs, and the cause of contention after his death.

Rhesus was on his march to aid the Trojans in their siege, and had nearly reached Troy, when he was attacked in the night by Ulysses and Diomed. In this surprise Rhesus and all his army were cut to pieces.—Homer, Iliad, x.

A parallel case was that of Sweno, the Dane, who was marching to join Godfrey and the crusaders, when he was attacked in the night by Solyman, and both Sweno and his army perished.—Tasso, Jerusalem Delivered (1575).

Rhiannon’s Birds. The notes of these birds were so sweet that warriors remained spell-bound for eighty years together, listening to them. These birds are often alluded to by the Welsh bards. (Rhiannon was the wife of Prince Pwyll.)—The Mabinogion, 363 (twelfth century).

The snow-white bird which the monk Felix listened to, sang so enchantingly that he was spell-bound for a hundred years, listening to it.—Longfellow, Golden Legend.

Rhodalind, daughter of Aribert, king of Lombardy, in love with Duke Gondibert; but Gondibert preferred Birtha, a country girl, daughter of the sage, Astrăgon. While the duke is whispering sweet love-notes to Birtha, a page comes post-haste to announce to him that the king has proclaimed him his heir, and is about to give him his daughter in marriage. The duke gives Birtha an emerald ring, and says if he is false to her, the emerald will lose its lustre; then hastens to court, in obedience to the king’s summons. Here the tale breaks off, and was never finished.—Sir Wm. Davenant, Gondibert (1605-1668).

Rhodian Venus (The). This was the “Venus” of Protog´enês mentioned by Pliny, Natural History, xxxv. 10.

Prior (1664-1721) refers to the same painting in his fable of Protogênes and Appellês:

Rhod´ope (3 syl.), or Rhod´opis, a celebrated Greek courtezan, who afterwards married Psammetichus, king of Egypt. It is said she built the third pyramid.—Pliny, Nat. Hist., xxxvi. 12.

Rhombus, a schoolmaster who speaks “a leash of languages at once,” puzzling himself and his hearers with a jargon like that of “Holofernês” in Shakespeare’s Love’s Labor’s Lost (1594).—Sir Philip Sidney, Pastoral Entertainment (1587).

Rhombus, a spinning-wheel or rolling instrument used by the Roman witches for fetching the moon out of heaven.

Quæ nunc Thessalico lunam deducere rhombo [sciet].—Martial, Epigrams, ix. 30.

Rhone of Christian Eloquence (The), St. Hilary (300-367).

Rhone of Latin Eloquence (The). St. Hilary is so called by St. Jerome (300-367).

Rhongomyant, the lance of King Arthur.—The Mabinogion (“Kilhwch and Olwen,” twelfth century).

Rhyming to Death. In 1 Henry VI. act i. sc. 1, Thomas Beaufort, duke of Exeter, speaking about the death of Henry V., says, “Must we think that the subtle-witted French conjurors and sorcerers, out of fear of him, ‘by magic verses have contrived his end?’” The notion of killing by incantation was at one time very common.

Irishmen ... will not stick to affirme that they can rime either man or beast to death.—Reg. Scot, Discoverie of Witchcraft (1564).

Ribbon. The yellow ribbon, in France, indicates that the wearer has won a médaille militaire (instituted by Napoleon III.) as a minor decoration of the Legion of Honor.

The red ribbon marks a chevalier of the Legion of Honor. A rosette indicates a higher grade than that of chevalier.

Ribemont (3 syl.), the bravest and noblest of the French host in the battle of Poitiers. He alone dares confess that the English are a brave people. In the battle he is slain by Lord Audley.—Shirley, Edward the Black Prince (1640).

Ribemont (Count), in The Siege of Calais, by Colman.

Riccar´do, commander of Plymouth fortress, a Puritan to whom Lord Walton has promised his daughter, Elvira, in marriage. Riccardo learns that the lady is in love with Arthur Talbot, and when Arthur is taken prisoner by Cromwell’s soldiers, Riccardo promises to use his efforts to obtain his pardon. This, however, is not needful, for Cromwell, feeling quite secure of his position, orders all the captives of war to be released. Riccardo is the Italian form of Sir Richard Forth.—Bellini, I Puritani (opera, 1834).

Ricciardetto, son of Aymon, and brother of Bradamante.—Ariosto, Orlando Furioso (1516).

Rice. Eating rice with a bodkin. Aminê, the beautiful wife of Sidi Nouman, ate rice with a bodkin, but she was a ghoul. (See Amine.)

Richard, a fine, honest lad, by trade a smith. He marries, on New Year’s Day, Meg, the daughter of Toby Veck.—C. Dickens, The Chimes (1844).

Richard (Squire), eldest son of Sir Francis Wronghead, of Bumper Hall. A country bumpkin, wholly ignorant of the world and of literature.—Vanbrugh and Cibber, The Provoked Husband (1727).

Robert Wetherilt [1708-1745] came to Drury Lane a boy, where he showed his rising genius in the part of “Squire Richard.”—Chetwood, History of the Stage.

Richard (Prince), eldest son of King Henry II.—Sir W. Scott, The Betrothed (time, Henry II.).

Richard “Cœur de Lion,” introduced in two novels by Sir W. Scott (The Talisman and Ivanhoe). In the latter he first appears as “The Black Knight,” at the tournament, and is called Le Noir Fainéant, or “The Black Sluggard;” also “The Knight of the Fetter-lock.”

Richard a Name of Terror. The name of Richard I., like that of Attila, Bonaparte, Corvīnus, Narses, Sebastian, Talbot, Tamerlane, and other great conquerors, was at one time employed in terrorem to disobedient children. (See Names of Terror.)

His tremendous name was employed by the Syrian mothers to silence their infants; and if a horse suddenly started from the way, his rider was wont to exclaim, “Dost thou think King Richard is in the bush?”—Gibbon, Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, xi. 146 (1776-88).

The Daughters of Richard I. When Richard was in France, Fulco, a priest, told him he ought to beware how he bestowed his daughters in marriage. “I have no daughters,” said the king. “Nay, nay,” replied Fulco, “all the world knows that you have three—Pride, Covetousness and Lechery.” “If these are my daughters,” said the king, “I know well how to bestow them where they will be well cherished. My eldest I give to the Knights Templars, my second to the monks; and my third I cannot bestow better than on yourself, for I am sure she will never be divorced nor neglected.”—Thomas Milles, True Nobility (1610).

The Horse of Richard I., Fennel.

Ah, Fennel, my noble horse, thou bleedest, thou art slain!—Cœur de Lion and His Horse.

The Troubadour of Richard I., Bertrand de Born.

Richard Pennyroyal, unhappy man whose weary indifference to his first wife heightens into aversion as she becomes insane. He is relieved when she drowns herself. His second wife, passionately beloved, is unfaithful to him, and loathes him as he drinks more and more to drown disappointment. His rival triumphs over him in a struggle for property, but Richard has his wife still. Straying one night toward the pool in which his first wife drowned herself, he comes upon the false wife and her lover, challenges the latter to a duel then and there, and is shot through the heart. His body is tossed into the pool and never discovered.—Julian Hawthorne, Archibald Malmaison (1878).

Richard II’s Horse, Roan Barbary.—Shakespeare, Richard II. act v. sc. 5 (1597).

Richard III., a tragedy by Shakespeare (1597). At one time parts of Rowe’s tragedy of Jane Shore were woven in the acting edition, and John Kemble introduced other clap-traps from Colley Cibber. The best actors of this part were David Garrick (1716-1779), Henry Mossop (1729-1773) and Edmund Kean (1787-1833).

Richard III. was only 19 years old at the opening of Shakespeare’s play.—Sharon Turner.

The Horse of Richard III., White Surrey.—Shakespeare, Richard III. act v. sc. 3 (1597).

Richard’s himself again! These words were interpolated by John Kemble from Colley Cibber.

Richards (Allen). He meets his lately betrothed in a parlor-car, and the dialogue that ensues ends in reconciliation and renewal of vows. They are alone, except when the porter enters from time to time, and a providential detention on the road prolongs the interview.—W. D. Howells, The Parlor Car (a farce, 1876).

Richelieu (Armand), cardinal and chief minister of France. The duke of Orleans (the king’s brother), the count de Baradas (the king’s favorite), and other noblemen, conspired to assassinate Richelieu, dethrone Louis XIII., and make Gaston, duke of Orleans, the regent. The plot was revealed to the cardinal by Marion de Lorme, in whose house the conspirators met. The conspirators were arrested, and several of them put to death, but Gaston, duke of Orleans, turned king’s evidence, and was pardoned.—Lord Lytton, Richelieu (1839).

Richland (Miss), intended for Leontine Croaker, but she gives her hand in marriage to Mr. Honeywood, “the good-natured man,” who promises to abandon his quixotic benevolence, and to make it his study in future “to reserve his pity for real distress, his friendship for true merit, and his love for her who first taught him what it is to be happy.”—Goldsmith, The Good-natured Man (1768).

Richlings (The). Brave young couple who come to New Orleans to make a living. John Richling has forfeited the favor of a rich father by marrying the woman of his choice, but never regrets the action. From the outset ill-fortune pursues him. He is willing to work, but work is hard to get. He accepts various employments, more or less menial, and through no fault of his, loses one after another. Nothing is stable except Mary’s love and Dr. Sevier’s friendship. Just before the war poverty compels him to send Mary to her mother in Milwaukee. There her child is born. He remains in New Orleans, working hard, and steadily failing in health. For three years they are separated by war, the noble wife trying all the while to get to her husband. When she succeeds, it is to find him on his death-bed.

Mary becomes, under Dr. Sevier’s direction a city-missionary. “The work ... seemed to keep John near. Almost, sometimes, he seemed to walk at her side in her errands of mercy, or to spread above her the arms of benediction.”—George W. Cable, Dr. Sevier (1888).

Richmond (The duchess of) wife of Charles Stuart, in the court of Charles II. The line became extinct, and the title was given to the Lennox family.—Sir W. Scott, Perveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

Richmond (The earl of), Henry of Lancaster.—Sir W. Scott, Anne of Geierstein (time, Edward IV.).

Richmond Hill (The Lass of), Miss l’Anson, of Hill House, Richmond, Yorkshire. Words by M’Nally, music by James Hook, who married the young lady.

The Lass of Richmond Hill is one of the sweetest ballads in the language.—John Bell.

Richmond (Kate). New England girl, heroine of several sketches in Grace Greenwood’s Leaves. “Aside from her beauty and unfailing cheerfulness, she has a clear, strong intellect, an admirable taste and an earnest truthfulness of character.”—Grace Greenwood, Greenwood Leaves (1850).

Rickets (Mabel), the old nurse of Frank Osbaldistone.—Sir W. Scott, Rob Roy (time, George I.).

Riderhood (Rogue), the villain in Dickens’s novel of Our Mutual Friend (1864).

Rides on the Tempest and Directs the Storm. Joseph Addison, speaking of the duke of Marlborough and his famous victories, says that he inspired the fainting squadrons, and stood unmoved in the shock of battle:

Ridicule (Father of). François Rabelais is so styled by Sir Wm. Temple (1495-1553).

Ridolphus, one of the band of adventurers that joined the crusaders. He was slain by Argantês (bk. vii.)—Tasso, Jerusalem Delivered (1575).

Rienzi (Nicolo Gabrïni) or Cola di Rienzi, last of the tribunes, who assumed the name of “Tribune of Liberty, Peace and Justice” (1313-1354).

^*_*^* Cola di Rienzi is the hero of a novel by Lord Bulwer Lytton, entitled Rienzi, or The Last of the Tribunes (1849).

Rienzi, an opera by Wagner (1841). It opens with a number of the Orsini breaking into Rienzi’s house, in order to abduct his sister, Irēnê, but in this they are foiled by the arrival of the Colonna and his followers. The outrage provokes a general insurrection, and Rienzi is appointed leader. The nobles are worsted, and Rienzi becomes a senator; but the aristocracy hate him, and Paolo Orsini seeks to assassinate him, but without success. By the machinations of the German emperor and the Colonna, Rienzi is excommunicated and deserted by all his adherents. He is ultimately fired on by the populace and killed on the steps of the capitol.—Libretto by J. P. Jackson.

Rienzi (The English), William with the Long Beard, alias Fitzosbert (*-1196).

Rigaud (Mons.), a Belgian, 35 years of age, confined in a villainous prison at Marseilles, for murdering his wife. He has a hooked nose, handsome after its kind, but too high between the eyes, and his eyes, though sharp, were too near to one another. He was, however, a large, tall man, with thin lips, and a goodly quantity of dry hair shot with red. When he spoke, his moustache went up under his nose, and his nose came down over his moustache. After his liberation from prison, he first took the name of Lagnier, and then of Blandois, his name being Rigaud Lagnier Blandois.—Charles Dickens, Little Dorrit (1857).

Rigdum-Funnidos, a courtier in the palace of King Chrononhotonthologos. After the death of the king, the widowed queen is advised to marry again, and Rigdum Funnidos is proposed to her as “a very proper man.” At this Aldiborontephoscophornio takes umbrage, and the queen says, “Well, gentlemen, to make matters easy, I’ll have you both.”—H. Carey, Chrononhotonthologos (1734).

^*_*^* John Ballantyne, the publisher, was so called by Sir W. Scott. He was “a quick, active, intrepid little fellow, full of fun and merriment ... all over quaintness and humorous mimicry.”

Right-Hitting Brand, one of the companions of Robin Hood, mentioned by Mundy.

Rig´olette (3 syl.), a grisette and courtezan.—Eugène Sue, Mysteries of Paris (1842-3).

Rigoletto, an opera, describing the agony of a father obliged to witness the violation of his own daughter.—Verdi, Rigoletto (1852).

^*_*^* The libretto of this opera is borrowed from Victor Hugo’s drama Le Roi s’Amuse.

Rimegap (Joe), one of the miners of Sir Geoffrey Perveril of the Peak.—Sir W. Scott, Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

Rimini (Francesca di), a woman of extraordinary beauty, daughter of the lord of Ravenna. She was married to Lanciotto Malatesta, signore of Rimini, a man of great bravery, but deformed. His brother, Paolo, was extremely handsome, and with him Francesca fell in love. Lanciotto, detecting them in criminal intercourse, killed them both (1389).

This tale forms one of the episodes of Dantê’s Inferno; is the subject of a tragedy called Francesca di Rimini, by Silvio Pellico (1819); and Leigh Hunt, about the same time, published his Story of Rimini, in verse.

Rimmon, seventh in order of the hierarchy of Hell: (1) Satan, (2) Beëlzebub, (3) Moloch, (4) Chemos, (5) Thammuz, (6) Dagon, (7) Rimmon, whose chief temple was at Damascus (2 Kings v. 18).

Rinaldo, son of the fourth Marquis d’Estê, cousin of Orlando, and nephew of Charlemagne. He was the rival of Orlando in his love for Angelica, but Angelica detested him. Rinaldo brought an auxiliary force of English and Scotch to Charlemagne, which “Silence” conducted safely into Paris.—Ariosto, Orlando Furioso (1516).

Rinaldo, the Achillês of the Christian army in the siege of Jerusalem. He was the son of Bertoldo and Sophia, but was brought up by Matilda. Rinaldo joined the crusaders at the age of 15. Being summoned to a public trial for the death of Gernando, he went into voluntary exile.—Tasso, Jerusalem Delivered (1575).

^*_*^* Pulci introduces the same character in his burlesque poem entitled Morgantê Maggiorê, which holds up to ridicule the romances of chivalry.

Rinaldo, steward to the countess of Rousillon—Shakespeare, All’s Well that Ends Well (1598).

Rinaldo of Montalban, a knight who had the “honor” of being a public plunderer. His great exploit was stealing the golden idol of Mahomet.

In this same Mirror of Knighthood we meet with Rinaldo de Montalban and his companions, with the twelve peers of France, and Turpin, the historian.... Rinaldo had a broad face, and a pair of large rolling eyes; his complexion was ruddy, and his disposition choleric. He was, besides, naturally profligate, and a great encourager of vagrants.—Cervantes, Don Quixote, I. i. 1, 6 (1605).

Ring (Dame Liŏnês’s), a ring given by Dame Lionês to Sir Gareth, during a tournament.

“That ring,” said Dame Lionês, “increaseth my beauty much more than it is of itself; and this is the virtue of my ring: that which is green it will turn to red, and that which is red it will turn green; that which is blue it will turn white, and that which is white it will turn blue; and so with all other colors. Also, whoever beareth my ring can never lose blood.”—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur, i. 146 (1470).

Ring (Luned’s). This ring rendered the wearer invisible. Luned or Lynet gave it to Owain, one of King Arthur’s knights. Consequently, when men were sent to kill him he was nowhere to be found, for he was invisible.

Take this ring, and put it on thy finger, with the stone inside thy hand; and close thy hand upon the stone; and as long as thou concealest it, it will conceal thee.—The Mabinogion (“Lady of the Fountain,” twelfth century).

Ring (The Steel), made by Siedel-Beckir. This ring enabled the wearer to read the secrets of another’s heart.—Comte de Caylus, Oriental Tales (“The Four Talismans,” 1743).

Ring (The Talking), a ring given by Tartaro, the Basque Cyclops, to a girl whom he wished to marry. Immediately she put it on, it kept incessantly saying, “You there, and I here;” so, to get rid of the nuisance, she cut off her finger and threw both ring and finger into a pond.—Rev. W. Webster, Basque Legends, 4 (1876).

The same story appears in Campbell’s Popular Tales of the West Highlands, i. 111, and in Grimm’s tale of The Robber and His Sons. When the robber put on the ring, it incessantly cried out, “Here I am;” so he bit off his finger, and threw it from him.

Ring (The Virgin’s Wedding Ring), kept in the Duomo of Perugia, under fourteen locks.

Ring and the Book (The), an idyllic epic, by Robert Browning, founded on a cause célèbre of Italian history in 1698. The case was this: Guido Franceschini, a Florentine count of shattered fortune, married Pompilia, thinking her to be an heiress. When the young bride discovered that she had been married for her money only, she told her husband she was no heiress at all, but was only the supposititious child of Pietro (2 syl.), supplied by one Violantê, for the sake of keeping in his hands certain entailed property. The count now treated Pompilia so brutally that she ran away from home, under the protection of Caponsacchi, a young priest, and being arrested at Rome, a legal separation took place. Pompilia sued for a divorce, but, pending the suit, gave birth to a son. The count now murdered Pietro, Violantê, and Pompilia, but being taken red-handed, was brought to trial, found guilty, and executed.

Ring the Bells Backwards (To), to ring a muffled peal, to lament. Thus, John Cleveland, wishing to show his abhorrence of the Scotch, says:

Ringdove (The Swarthy). The responses of the oracle of Dodōna, in Epīros, were made by old women called “pigeons,” who derived their answers from the cooing of certain doves, the bubbling of a spring, a rustling of the sacred oak [or beech], and the tinkling of a gong or bell hung in the tree. The women were called pigeons by a play on the word pelīæ, which means “old women” as well as “pigeons;” and as they came from Libya they were swarthy.

According to the fable, Zeus gave his daughter, Thēbê, two black doves endowed with the gift of human speech; one of them flew into Libya, and the other into Dodona. The former gave the responses in the temple of Ammon, and the latter in the oracle of Dodona.

Ringhorse (Sir Robert), a magistrate at Old St. Ronan’s.—Sir W. Scott, St. Ronan’s Well (time, George III.).

Ringwood, a young Templar.—Sir W. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel (time, James I.).

Rintherout (Jenny), a servant at Monkbarns to Mr. Jonathan Oldbuck, the antiquary.—Sir W. Scott, The Antiquary (time, George III.).

Riou (Captain), called by Nelson “The Gallant and the Good;” fell in the battle of the Baltic.

Rip van Winkle slept twenty years in the Catskill Mountains, of North America. (See Winkle.)

Epimenĭdês, the Gnostic, slept for fifty-seven years.

Gyneth slept 500 years, by the enchantment of Merlin.

The seven sleepers slept for 250 years in Mount Celion.

St. David slept for seven years. (See Ormandine.)

(The following are not dead, but only sleep till the fulness of their respective times:—Elijah, Endymion, Merlin, King Arthur, Charlemagne, Frederick Barbarossa and his knights, the three Tells, Desmond of Kilmallock, Thomas of Erceldoune, Boabdil el Chico, Brian Boroimhe, Knez Lazar, King Sebastian of Portugal, Olaf Tryggvason, the French slain in the Sicilian Vespers, and one or two others.)

Riquet with the Tuft, the beau-ideal of ugliness, but with the power of bestowing wit and intelligence on the person he loved best. Riquet fell in love with a most beautiful woman, as stupid as he was ugly, but possessing the power of giving beauty to the person she loved best. The two married, whereupon Riquet gave his bride wit, and she bestowed on him beauty.—Charles Perrault, Contes des Fées (“Riquet à la Houppe,” 1697).

^*_*^* This tale is borrowed from the Nights of Straparola. It is imitated by Mde. Villeneuve in her Beauty and the Beast.

Risingham (Bertram), the vassal of Philip of Mortham. Oswald Wycliffe induced him to shoot his lord at Marston Moor; and for this deed the vassal demanded all the gold and movables of his late master. Oswald, being a villain, tried to outwit Bertram, and even to murder him; but it turned out that Philip of Mortham, was not killed, neither was Oswald Wycliffe, his heir, for Redmond O’Neale (Rokeby’s page) was found to be the son and heir of Philip of Mortham.—Sir W. Scott, Rokeby (1812).

Ritho or Rython, a giant who had made himself furs of the beards of kings killed by him. He sent to King Arthur, to meet him on Mount Aravius, or else to send his beard to him without delay. Arthur met him, slew him, and took “fur” as a spoil. Drayton says it was this Rython who carried off Helĕna, the niece of Duke Hoel; but Geoffrey of Monmouth says that King Arthur, having killed the Spanish giant, told his army “he had found none so great in strength since he killed the giant Ritho;” by which it seems that the Spanish giant and Ritho are different persons, although it must be confessed the scope of the chronicle seems to favor their identity.—Geoffrey, British History, x. 3 (1142).

Rival Queens (The), Stati´ra and Roxa´na. Statīra was the daughter of Darīus, and wife of Alexander the Great. Roxana was the daughter of Oxyartês, the Bactrian; her, also, Alexander married. Roxana stabbed Statira, and killed her.—N. Lee, Alexander the Great, or The Rival Queens (1678).

Rivals (The), a comedy by Sheridan (1775). The rivals are Bob Acres and Ensign Beverley (alias Captain Absolute), and Lydia Languish is the lady they contend for. Bob Acres tells Captain Absolute that Ensign Beverley is a booby; and if he could find him out, he’d teach him his place. He sends a challenge to the unknown, by Sir Lucius O’Trigger, but objects to forty yards, and thinks thirty-eight would suffice. When he finds that Ensign Beverley is Captain Absolute, he declines to quarrel with his friend; and when his second calls him a coward, he fires up and exclaims, “Coward! Mind, gentlemen, he calls me a ‘coward,’ coward by my valor!” and when dared by Sir Lucius, he replies, “I don’t mind the word ‘coward;’ ‘coward’ may be said in a joke; but if he called me ‘poltroon,’ ods, daggers and balls——” “Well, sir, what then?” “Why,” rejoined Bob Acres, “I should certainly think him very ill-bred.” Of course, he resigns all claim to the lady’s hand.

River of Juvenescence. Prester John, in his letter to Manuel Comnēnus, emperor of Constantinople, says there is a spring at the foot of Mount Olympus, which changes its flavor hour by hour, both night and day. Whoever tastes thrice of its waters, will never know fatigue or the infirmities of age.

River of Paradise, St. Bernard, abbot of Clairvaux (1091-1153).

Rivers Arise.... In this Vacation Exercise, George Rivers (son of Sir John Rivers of Westerham, in Kent), with nine other freshmen, took the part of the ten “Predicaments,” while Milton himself performed the part of “Ens.” Without a doubt, the pun suggested the idea in Milton’s Vacation Exercise (1627):

Rivulet Controversy (The) arose against Rev. T. T. Lynch, a Congregationalist, who, in 1853, had expressed neologian views in The Rivulet, a book of poems.

Rizzio (David), the private secretary of Marie Stuart, queen of the Scots, and reputed by her enemies to be her favored lover. He was murdered in her presence by a gang of conspirators, led by Henry Darnley, her husband. Poets and musicians have made lavish use of this episode in the life of the unhappy queen.

Road to Ruin, a comedy by Thomas Holcroft (1792). Harry Dornton and his friend, Jack Milford, are on “the road to ruin,” by their extravagance. The former brings his father to the eve of bankruptcy; and the latter, having spent his private fortune, is cast into prison for debt. Sulky, a partner in the bank, comes forward to save Mr. Dornton from ruin; Harry advances £6000 to pay his friend’s debts, and thus saves Milford from ruin; and the father restores the money advanced by Widow Warren to his son, to save Harry from the ruin of marrying a designing widow instead of Sophia Freelove, her innocent and charming daughter.

Roads (The king of), John Loudon Macadam, the improver of roads (1756-1836).

Roan Barbary, the charger of Richard II., which would eat from his master’s hand.

Rob Roy, published in 1818, excellent for its bold sketches of Highland scenery. The character of Bailie Nicol Jarvie is one of Scott’s happiest conceptions; and the carrying of him to the wild mountains among outlaws and desperadoes is exquisitely comic. The hero, Frank Osbaldistone, is no hero at all. Dramatized by I. Pocock.

Rob Roy M’Gregor, i.e. “Robert the Red,” whose surname was MacGregor. He was an outlaw who assumed the name of Campbell in 1662. He may be termed the Robin Hood of Scotland. The hero of the novel is Frank Osbaldistone, who gets into divers troubles, from which he is rescued by Rob Roy. The last service is to kill Rashleigh Osbaldistone, whereby Frank’s great enemy is removed; and Frank then marries Diana Vernon.—Sir W. Scott, Rob Roy (time, George I.).

Rather beneath the middle size than above it, his limbs were formed upon the very strongest model that is consistent with agility.... Two points in his person interfered with the rules of symmetry: his shoulders were too broad ... and his arms (though round, sinewy and strong) were so very long as to be rather a deformity.—Ch. xxiii.

Rob Tally-ho, Esq., cousin of the Hon. Tom Dashall, the two blades whose rambles and adventures through the metropolis are related by Pierce Egan (1821-2).

Rob the Rambler, the comrade of Willie Steenson, the blind fiddler.—Sir W. Scott, Redgauntlet (time, George III.).

Robb (Duncan), the grocer near Ellangowan.—Sir W. Scott, Guy Mannering (time, George II.).

Robber (Alexander’s). The pirate who told Alexander he was the greater robber of the two, was Dionĭdês. (See Evenings at Home, art. “Alexander and the Robber.”) The tale is from Cicero:

Nam quum quæreretur ex eo, quo scelere impulsus mare haberet infestum uno myoparone: eodem, inquit, quo tu orbem terræ.—De Repub., iii. 14 sc. 24.

Robber (Edward the). Edward IV. was so called by the Scotch.

Robert, father of Marian. He had been a wrecker, and still hankered after the old occupation. One night a storm arose, and Robert went to the coast to see what would fall into his hands. A body was washed ashore, and he rifled it. Marian followed, with the hope of restraining her father, and saw in the dusk some one strike a dagger into a prostrate body. She thought it was her father, and when Robert was on his trial he was condemned to death on his daughter’s evidence. Black Norris, the real murderer, told her he would save her father if she would consent to be his wife; she consented, and Robert was acquitted. On the wedding day her lover, Edward, returned to claim her hand, Norris was seized as a murderer, and Marian was saved.—S. Knowles, The Daughter (1836).

Robert, a servant of Sir Arthur Wardour, at Knockwinnock Castle.—Sir W. Scott, The Antiquary (time, George III.).

Robert (Mons.), a neighbor of Sganarelle. Hearing the screams of Mde. Martine (Sganarelle’s wife), he steps over to make peace between them, whereupon Madame calls him an impertinent fool, and says if she chooses to be beaten by her husband it is no affair of his; and Sganarelle says, “Je la veux battre, si je le veux; et ne la veux pas battre, si je ne le veux pas;” and beats M. Robert again.—Molière, Le Médecin Malgré Lui (1666).

Robert Kent. Weak, vicious husband of Margaret Kent. Causes trouble all his life and dies of yellow fever.—Ellen Olney Kirk, The Story of Margaret Kent (1886).

Robert Macaire, a bluff, free-living libertine. His accomplice is Bertrand, a simpleton and a villain.—Daumier, L’Auberge des Adrets.

Robert, duke of Albany, brother of Robert III. of Scotland.—Sir W. Scott, Fair Maid of Perth (time, Henry IV.)

Robert, duke of Normandy, sold his dominions to Rufus for 10,000 marks, to furnish him with ready money for the crusade, which he joined at the head of 1000 heavy-armed horse and 1000 light-armed Normans.—Tasso, Jerusalem Delivered (1575).

Robert III. of Scotland, introduced by Sir W. Scott in the Fair Maid of Perth (time, Henry IV.).

Robert le Diable, son of Bertha and Bertramo. Bertha was the daughter of Robert, duke of Normandy, and Bertramo was a fiend in the guise of a knight. The opera shows the struggle in Robert between the virtue inherited from his mother and the vice inherited from his father. His father allures him to gamble till he loses everything, and then claims his soul, but his foster-sister, Alice, counterplots the fiend, and rescues Robert by reading to him his mother’s will.—Meyerbeer, Roberto il Diavolo (libretto by Scribe, 1831).

^*_*^* Robert le Diable was the hero of an old French metrical romance (thirteenth century). This romance in the next century was thrown into prose. There is a miracle-play on the same subject.

Robert of Paris (Count), one of the crusading princes. The chief hero of this novel is Hereward (3 syl.), one of the Varangian guard of the Emperor Alexius Comnēnus. He and the count fight a single combat with battle-axes; after which Hereward enlists under the count’s banner, and marries Bertha, also called Agatha.—Sir W. Scott, Count Robert of Paris (time, Rufus).

Robert Penfold. Hero of Foul Play, by Charles Reade. He is foully wronged by Arthur Wardlaw, who forges his father’s name on a note with Penfold’s endorsement. Penfold is found guilty and imprisoned. After his release, he takes passage in the ship with Helen Rolleston, Wardlaw’s betrothed. Penfold also loves her, but hopelessly. They are wrecked and cast upon an island in company, and for several months are the only residents. After their rescue and return home, the truth is made manifest, Robert is vindicated, and marries Helen. His aliases are James Seaton and John Hazel.

Robert the Devil, or Robert the Magnificent, Robert I., duke of Normandy, father of William “the Conqueror” (*, 1028-1035).

Robert François Damiens, who tried to assassinate Louis XV., was popularly so called (*, 1714-1757).

Robert of Lincoln. The saucy songster is an especial favorite with American poets. Bryant does not disdain to write a long poem that has him as the theme.

Roberts, cash-keeper of Master George Heriot, the king’s goldsmith.—Sir W. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel (time, James I.).

Roberts (John), a smuggler.—Sir W. Scott, Redgauntlet (time, George III.).

Robespierre’s Weavers, the fish-fags and their rabble female followers of the very lowest class, partisans of Robespierre in the first French Revolution.

Robin, the page of Sir John Falstaff.—Shakespeare, Merry Wives of Windsor (1601).

Robin, servant of Captain Rovewell, whom he helps in his love adventure with Arethusa, daughter of Argus.—Carey, Contrivances (1715).

Robin, brother-in-law of Farmer Crop, of Cornwall. Having lost his property through the villainy of Lawyer Endless, he emigrates, and in three years returns. The ship is wrecked off the coast of Cornwall and Robin saves Frederick, the young squire. On landing, he meets his old sweetheart, Margaretta, at Crop’s house, and the acquaintance is renewed by mutual consent.—P. Hoare, No Song no Supper (1790).

Robin, a young gardener, fond of the minor theatres, where he has picked up a taste for sentimental fustian, but all his rhapsodies bear upon his trade. Thus, when Wilhelmina asks why he wishes to dance with her, he replies:

Ask the plants why they love a shower; ask the sunflower why it loves the sun; ask the snowdrop why it is white; ask the violet why it is blue; ask the trees why they blossom; the cabbages why they grow. ’Tis all because they can’t help it; no more can I help my love for you.—C. Didbin, The Waterman, i. (1774).

Robin (Old), butler to old Mr. Ralph Morton, of Milnwood.—Sir W. Scott, Old Mortality (time, Charles II.).

Robin Bluestring. Sir Robert Walpole was so called, in allusion to his blue ribbon as a knight of the garter (1676-1745).

Robin des Bois. Mysterious rover of the woods in Freischütz, also in Eugène Sue’s novels—“a bug-a-boo!”

Robin Gray (Auld). The words of this song are by Lady Anne Lindsay, daughter of the earl of Balcarres; she was afterwards Lady Barnard. The song was written, in 1772, to an old Scotch tune called The Bridegroom Grat when the Sun gaed Down. (See Gray.)

Robin Hood was born at Locksley, in Notts., in the reign of Henry II. (1160). His real name was Fitzooth, and it is commonly said that he was the earl of Huntingdon. Having outrun his fortune, and being outlawed, he lived as a freebooter in Barnsdale (Yorkshire), Sherwood (Notts.), and Plompton Park (Cumberland). His chief companions were Little John (whose name was Nailor), William Scadlock (or Scarlet), George Green, the pinder (or pound-keeper) of Wakefield, Much, a miller’s son, and Tuck, a friar, with one woman, Maid Marian. His company at one time consisted of a hundred archers. He was bled to death in his old age by his sister, the Prioress of Kirkley’s Nunnery, in Yorkshire, November 18, 1247, aged 87 years.

^*_*^* An excellent sketch of Robin Hood is given by Drayton in his Polyolbion, xxvi. Sir W. Scott introduces him in two novels—Ivanhoe and The Talisman. In the former he first appears as Locksley, the archer, at the tournament. He is also called “Dickon Bend-the-Bow.”

The following dramatic pieces have the famous outlaw for the hero: Robin Hood, i. (1597), Munday; Robin Hood, ii. (1598), Chettle; Robin Hood (1741), an opera, by Dr. Arne and Burney; Robin Hood (1787), an opera by O’Keefe, music by Shield; Robin Hood, by Macnally (before 1820).

Major tells us that this famous robber took away the goods of rich men only; never killed any person except in self-defence; never plundered the poor, but charitably fed them; and adds, “he was the most humane and the prince of all robbers.”—Britanniæ Historia, 128 (1740).

The abbot of St. Mary’s, in York, and the sheriff at Nottingham were his bêtês noires. Munday and Chettle wrote a popular play in 1601, entitled The Death of Robert, Earl of Huntington.

Epitaph of Robin Hood.

Robin Hood’s Fat Friar was Friar Tuck.

Robin Hood’s Men, outlaws, freebooters.

There came sodainly twelve men all appareled in short cotes of Kentish Kendal [green] ... every one of them ... like outlaws or Robyn Hodes men.—Hall (fo. lvi. b).

Robin Redbreast. One tradition is that the robin pecked a thorn out of the crown of thorns when Christ was on His way to Calvary, and the blood which issued from the wound, falling on the bird, dyed its breast red.

Another tradition is that it carries in its bill dew to those shut up in the burning lake, and its breast is red from being scorched by the fire of Gehenna.

Robin Redbreasts, Bow Street officers. So called from their red vests.

Robin Roughhead, a poor cottager and farm laborer, the son of Lord Lackwit. On the death of his lordship, Robin Roughhead comes into the title and estates. This brings out the best qualities of his heart—liberality, benevolence and honesty. He marries Dolly, to whom he was already engaged, and becomes the good genius of the peasantry on his estate.—Allingham, Fortune’s Frolic.

Robin and Makyne (2 syl.), an old Scotch pastoral. Robin is a shepherd, for whom Makyne sighs, but he turns a deaf ear to her, and she goes home to weep. In time, Robin sighs for Makyne, but she replies, “He who wills not when he may, when he wills he shall have nay.”—Percy, Reliques, etc., II.

Robin of Bagshot, alias Gordon, alias Bluff Bob, alias Carbuncle, alias Bob Booty, one of Macheath’s gang of thieves, and a favorite of Mrs. Peachum’s.—Gay, The Beggar’s Opera (1727).

Robins (Zerubbabel), in Cromwell’s troop.—Sir W. Scott, Woodstock (time, Commonwealth).

Robinson Cru´soe (2 syl.), a tale by Daniel Defoe. Robinson Crusoe ran away from home, and went to sea. Being wrecked, he led for many years a solitary existence on an uninhabited island of the tropics, and relieved the weariness of life by numberless contrivances. At length he met a human being, a young Indian, whom he saved from death on a Friday. He called him his “man Friday,” and made him his companion and servant.

Defoe founded this story on the adventures of Alexander Selkirk, sailing-master of the Cinque Ports Galley, who was left by Captain Stradling on the desolate island of Juan Fernandez for four years and four months (1704-1709), when he was rescued by Captain Woodes Rogers and brought to England.

Robsart (Amy), countess of Leicester. She was betrothed to Edmund Tressilian. When the earl falls into disgrace at court for marrying Amy, Richard Varney loosens a trap-door at Cumnor Place; and Amy, rushing forward to greet her husband, falls into the abyss and is killed.

Sir Hugh Robsart, of Lidcote Hall, father of Amy.—Sir W. Scott, Kenilworth (time, Elizabeth).

Roc, a white bird of enormous size. Its strength is such that it will lift up an elephant from the ground and carry it to its mountain nest, where it will devour it. In the Arabian Nights’ Entertainments, it was a roc which carried Sindbad the sailor from the island on which he had been deserted by his companions (“Second Voyage”). And it was a roc which carried Agib from the castle grounds of the ten young men who had lost their right eyes (“The Third Calender’s Story”). Sindbad says one claw of the roc is as “big as the trunk of a large tree,” and its egg is “fifty paces [150 feet] in circumference.”

^*_*^* The “rukh” of Madagascar, lays an egg equal to 148 hen’s eggs.—Comptes Rendus, etc., xxxii. 101 (1851).

Rocco, the jailer sent with Fidelio (Leonora) to dig the grave of Fernando Florestan (q.v.)—Beethoven, Fidelio (1791).

Roch´dale (Sir Simon), of the manor-house. He is a J.P., but refuses to give justice to Job Thornberry, the old brazier, who demands that his son, Frank Rochdale, should marry Mary [Thornberry], whom he has seduced. At this crisis, Peregrine appears, and tells Sir Simon he is the elder brother, and, as such, is heir to the title and estates.

Frank Rochdale, son of the baronet, who has promised to marry Mary Thornberry, but Sir Simon wants him to marry Lady Caroline Braymore, who has £4000 a year. Lady Caroline marries the Hon. Tom Shuffleton, and Frank makes the best reparation he can by marrying Mary.—G. Colman, Jr., John Bull (1805).

Roche’s Bird (Sir Boyle), which was “in two places at the same time.” The tale is that Sir Boyle Roche said in the House of Commons, “Mr. Speaker, it is impossible I could have been in two places at once, unless I were a bird.” This is a quotation from Jevon’s play, The Devil of a Wife (seventeenth century).

Wife. I cannot be in two places at once.

Husband (Rowland). Surely no, unless thou wert a bird.

Rochecliffe (Dr. Anthony), formerly Joseph Albany, a plotting royalist.—Sir W. Scott, Woodstock (time, commonwealth).

Rochester (The earl of), the favorite of Charles II., introduced in high feather by Sir W. Scott in Woodstock, and in Peveril of the Peak in disgrace.

Rochester (Edward). Brusque, cynical lover of Jane Eyre. Having married in his early youth a woman who disgraces him and then goes crazy, he shuts her up at Thornhill, and goes abroad. He returns to find a governess there in charge of his child-ward; falls in love with her, and would marry her, but for the discovery of his insane wife. Jane Eyre leaves him, and is lost to him until he is almost blind from injuries received in trying to rescue his wife from burning Thornhill. Jane marries and ministers unto him.—Charlotte Bronté, Jane Eyre (1847).

Rock (Dr. Richard), a famous quack, who professed to cure every disease. He was short of stature and fat, wore a white three-tailed wig, nicely combed and frizzed upon each cheek, carried a cane, and halted in his gait.

Dr. Rock, F.U.N., never wore a hat.... He and Dr. Franks were at variance.... Rock cautioned the world to beware of bog-trotting quacks, while Franks called his rival “Dumplin’ Dick.” Head of Confucius, what profanation!—Goldsmith, Citizen of the World (1759).

Rocket. He rose like a rocket, and fell like the stick. Thomas Paine said this of Mr. Burke.

Roderick, the thirty-fourth and last of the Gothic kings of Spain, son of Theod´ofred and Rusilla. Having violated Florinda, daughter of Count Julian, he was driven from his throne by the Moors, and assumed the garb of a monk with the name of “Father Maccabee.” He was present at the great battle of Covadonga, in which the Moors were cut to pieces, but what became of him afterwards no one knows. His helm, sword, and cuirass were found, so was his steed. Several generations passed away, when, in a hermitage near Viseu, a tomb was discovered, “which bore in ancient characters King Roderick’s name;” but imagination must fill up the gap. He is spoken of as most popular.

Roderick’s Dog was called Theron.

Roderick’s Horse was Orel´io.

Roderick (The Vision of Don). Roderick, the last of the Gothic kings of Spain, descended into an ancient vault near Toledo. This vault was similar to that in Greece, called the cave of Triphōnios, where was an oracle. In the vault Roderick saw a vision of Spanish history from his own reign to the beginning of the nineteenth century. Period I. The invasion of the Moors, with his own defeat and death. Period II. The Augustine age of Spain, and their conquests in the two Indies. Period III. The oppression of Spain by Bonaparte, and its succor by British aid.—Sir W. Scott, The Vision of Don Roderick (1811).

Roderick Dhu, an outlaw and chief of a banditti, which resolved to win back the spoil of the “Saxon spoiler.” Fitz-James, a Saxon, met him and knew him not. He asked the Saxon why he was roaming unguarded over the mountains, and Fitz-James replied that he had sworn to combat with Roderick, the rebel, till death laid one of them prostrate. “Have, then, thy wish!” exclaimed the stranger, “for I am Roderick Dhu.” As he spoke, the whole place bristled with armed men. Fitz-James stood with his back against a rock, and cried, “Come one, come all, this rock shall fly from its firm base as soon as I.” Roderick, charmed with his daring, waved his hand, and all the band disappeared as mysteriously as they had appeared. Roderick then bade the Saxon fight, “For,” said he, “that party will prove victorious which first slays an enemy.” “Then,” replied Fitz-James, “thy cause is hopeless, for Red Murdock is slain already.” They fought, however, and Roderick was slain (canto v.).—Sir W. Scott, The Lady of the Lake (1810).

Roderick Random, a child of impulse, and a selfish libertine. His treatment of Strap is infamous and most heartless.—Smollett, Roderick Random (1748).

Rod´erigo or Roderi´go (3 syl.), a Venetian gentleman, in love with Desdemona. When Desdemona eloped with Othello, Roderigo hated the “noble Moor,” and Ia´go took advantage of this temper for his own base ends.—Shakespeare, Othello (1611).

Roderigo’s suspicious credulity and impatient submission to the cheats which he sees practised on him, and which, by persuasion, he suffers to be repeated, exhibit a strong picture of a weak mind betrayed by unlawful desires to a false friend.—Dr. Johnson.

Rodilardus, a huge cat, which attacked Panurge, and which he mistook for “a young, soft-chinned devil.” The word means “gnaw-lard” (Latin, rodĕre lardum).—Rabelais, Pantagruel, iv. 67 (1545).

^*_*^* The marquis de Carabas.” (See Puss in Boots.)

Rodrigo, king of Spain, conquered by the Moors. He saved his life by flight, and wandered to Guadaletê, where he begged food of a shepherd, and gave him in recompense his royal chain and ring. A hermit bade him, in penance, retire to a certain tomb full of snakes and toads, where, after three days, the hermit found him unhurt; so, going to his cell, he passed the night in prayer. Next morning, Rodrigo cried aloud to the hermit, “They eat me now; I feel the adder’s bite.” So his sin was atoned for, and he died.

^*_*^* This Rodrigo is Roderick, the last of the Goths.

Rodrigo, rival of Pe´dro, “the pilgrim,” and captain of a band of outlaws.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Pilgrim (1621).

Rodri´go de Mondragon (Don), a bully and tyrant, the self-constituted arbiter of all disputes in a tennis-court of Valladolid.

Don Rodrigo de Mondragon was about 30 years of age, of an ordinary make, but lean and muscular; he had two little twinkling eyes that rolled in his head, and threatened everybody he looked at; a very flat nose, placed between red whiskers that curled up to his very temples; and a manner of speaking so rough and passionate that his words struck terror into everybody.—Lesage, Gil Bias, ii. 5 (1715).

Rodhaver, the sweetheart of Zal, a Persian. Zal being about to scale her bower, she let down her long tresses to assist him, but Zal managed to fix his crook into a projecting beam, and thus made his way to the lady of his devotion.—Champion, Ferdosi.

Rodman (Keeper, The), an ex-colonel of the Federal army, who has become the keeper of a national cemetery at the south. “At sunrise, the keeper ran up the stars and stripes, and ... he had taken money from his own store to buy a second flag for stormy weather, so that, rain or not, the colors should float over the dead.... It was simply a sense of the fitness of things.” He deviates so far from his rule as to fall in love with a Southern girl, whose nearest relative he has nursed through his last illness. She despises him as a Yankee too much to suspect this; she will not even write her name as a visitor to the National Cemetery. She goes to Tennessee to teach school, and Rodman offers to buy the uprooted vines discarded by the new owner of her cottage. “Wuth about twenty-five cents, I guess,” said the Maine man, handing them over.—Constance Fenimore Woolson (1880).

Rodmond, chief mate of the Brittania, son of a Northumbrian, engaged in the coal trade; a hardy, weather-beaten seaman, uneducated, “boisterous of manners,” and regardless of truth, but tender-hearted. He was drowned when the ship struck on Cape Colonna, the most southern point of Attica.

Ro´dogune, Rhodogune, or Rho´dogyne (3 syl.), daughter of Phraa´tês, king of Parthia. She married Deme´trius Nica´nor (the husband of Cleopat´ra, queen of Syria) while in captivity.

^*_*^* P. Corneille has a tragedy on the subject entitled Rodogune (1646).

Rodolfo (Il conte). It is in the bedchamber of this count that Ami´na is discovered the night before her espousal to Elvi´no. Ugly suspicion is excited, but the count assures the young farmer that Amina walks in her sleep. While they are talking Amina is seen to get out of a window and walk along a narrow edge of the mill-roof while the huge wheel is rapidly revolving. She crosses a crazy bridge, and walks into the very midst of the spectators. In a few minutes she awakens and flies to the arms of her lover.—Bellini, La Sonnambula (opera, 1831).

Rodomont, king of Sarza or Algiers. He was Ulien’s son, and called the “Mars of Africa.” His lady-love was Dor´alis, princess of Grana´da, but she eloped with Mandricardo, king of Tartary. At Rogero’s wedding Rodomont accused him of being a renegade and traitor, whereupon they fought, and Rodomont was slain.—Orlando Innamorato (1495); and Orlando Furioso (1516).

Who so meek? I’m sure I quake at the very thought of him; why, he’s as fierce as Rodomont!—Dryden, Spanish Fryar, v. 2 (1680).

^*_*^* Rodomontade (4 syl.), from Rodomont, a bragging although a brave knight.

Rogel of Greece (The Exploits and Adventures of), part of the series called Le Roman des Romans, pertaining to “Am´adis of Gaul.” This part was added by Feliciano de Silva.

Roger, the cook who “cowde roste, sethe, broille, and frie, make mortreux, and wel bake a pye.”—Chaucer, Canterbury Tales (1388).

Roger (Sir), curate to “The Scornful Lady” (no name given).—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Scornful Lady (1616).

Roger Armstrong, clerical lover of Faith Gartney, and her preferred suitor.—A. D. T. Whitney, Faith Gartney’s Girlhood.

Roger Bontemps, the personation of contentment with his station in life, and of the buoyancy of good hope. “There’s a good time coming, John.”

Roger Chillingworth, deformed husband of Hester Prynne. He returns to Boston from a long sojourn with the Indians, and sees his wife in the pillory with a baby—not his—in her arms. From that instant he sets himself to work to discover the name of her seducer, and, suspecting Arthur Dimmesdale, attaches himself to the oft-ailing clergyman as his medical attendant. He it is who first suspects the existence of the cancer that is devouring the young clergyman’s life, and when the horrible thing is revealed, kneels by the dying man with the bitter whisper, “Thou hast escaped me!”—Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter (1850).

Roger de Coverley (Sir), an hypothetical baronet of Coverley or Cowley, near Oxford.—Addison, The Spectator (1711, 1712, 1714).

^*_*^* The prototype of this famous character was Sir John Pakington, seventh baronet of the line.

Roge´ro, brother of Marphi´sa; brought up by Atlantês, a magician. He married Brad´amant, the niece of Charlemagne. Rogero was converted to Christianity, and was baptized. His marriage with Bradamant and his election to the crown of Bulgaria concludes the poem.—Ariosto, Orlando Furioso (1516).

Who more brave than Rodomont? who more courteous than Rogero?—Cervantês, Don Quixote, I. i. (1605).

Rogero, son of Roberto Guiscardo, the Norman. Slain by Tisaphernês.—Tasso, Jerusalem Delivered, xx. (1575).

Rogero (3 syl.), a gentleman of Sicilia.—Shakespeare, The Winter’s Tale (1604).

^*_*^* This is one of those characters which appear in the dramatis personæ, but are never introduced in the play. Rogero not only does not utter a word—he does not even enter the stage all through the drama. In the Globe edition his name is omitted. (See Violenta.)

Rogers (Mr.), illiterate, tender-hearted, great-souled old father of Louisiana. When she begs his pardon for having been ashamed of, and having disowned him, he tells her, “It’s you as should be a-forgivin’ me ... I hadn’t done ye no sort o’ justice in the world, an’ never could.”—Frances Hodgson Burnett, Louisiana (1880).

Roget, the pastoral name of George Wither in the four “eglogues” called The Shepheards Hunting (1615). The first and last “eglogues” are dialogues between Roget and Willy, his young friend; in the second pastoral Cuddy is introduced, and in the third Alexis makes a fourth character. The subject of the first three is the reason of Roget’s imprisonment, which, he says, is a hunt that gave great offence. This hunt is in reality a satire called Abuses Stript and Whipt. The fourth pastoral has for its subject Roget’s love of poetry.

^*_*^* “Willy” is his friend, William Browne, of the Inner Temple (two years his junior), author of Britannia’s Pastorals.

Roi Panade (“king of slops”), Louis XVIII. (1755, 1814-1824).

Roister Doister (Ralph), a vain, thoughtless, blustering fellow, in pursuit of Custance, a rich widow, but baffled in his endeavor.—Nicholas Udall, Ralph Roister Doister (the first English comedy, 1534).

Rokesmith (John), alias John Harmon, secretary of Mr. Boffin. He lodged with the Wilfers, and ultimately married Bella Wilfer. John Rokesmith is described as “a dark gentleman, 30 at the utmost, with an expressive, one might say, a handsome face.”—Dickens, Our Mutual Friend (1864).

^*_*^* For solution of the mystery, see vol. I. ii. 13.

Ro´land, count of Mans and knight of Blaives. His mother, Bertha, was Charlemagne’s sister. Roland is represented as brave, devotedly loyal, unsuspicious, and somewhat too easily imposed npon. He was eight feet high, and had an open countenance. In Italian romance he is called Orlan´do. He was slain in the valley of Roncesvalles as he was leading the rear of his uncle’s army from Spain to France. Charlemagne himself had reached St. Jean Pied de Port at the time, heard the blast of his nephew’s horn, and knew it announced treachery, but was unable to render him assistance (A.D. 778).

Roland is the hero of Théroulde’s Chanson de Roland; of Turpin’s Chronique; of Bojardo’s Orlando Innamorato; of Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso; of Piccini’s opera called Roland (1778); etc.

Roland’s Horn, Olivant or Olifant. It was won from the giant Jatmund, and might be heard at the distance of thirty miles. Birds fell dead at its blast, and the whole Saracen army drew back in terror when they heard it. So loud it sounded, that the blast reached from Roncesvallês to St. Jean Pied de Port, a distance of several miles.

Roland lifts Olifant to his month and blows it with all his might. The mountains around are lofty, but high above them the sound of the horn arises [at the third blast, it split in twain].—Song of Roland (as sung by Taillefer, at the battle of Hastings). See Warton, History of English Poetry, v. I, sect. iii. 132 (1781).

Roland’s Horse, Veillantif, called in Italian Velian´tino (“the little vigilant one”).

In Italian romance, Orlando has another horse, called Brigliado´ro (“golden bridle”).

Roland’s Spear. Visitors are shown a spear in the cathedral of Pa´via, which they are told belonged to Roland.

Roland’s Sword, Duran´dal, made by the fairies. To prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy, when Roland was attacked in the valley of Roncesvallês, he smote a rock with it, and it made in the solid rock a fissure some 300 feet in depth, called to this day La Brêche de Roland.

^*_*^* A sword is shown at Rocamadour, in the department of Lot (France), which visitors are assured was Roland’s Durandal. But the romances says that Roland, dying, threw his sword into a poisoned stream.

Death of Roland. There is a tradition that Roland escaped the general slaughter in the defile of Roncesvallês, and died of starvation while trying to make his way across the mountains.—John de la Bruiere Champier, De Cibaria, xvi. 5.

Died like Roland, died of thirst.

Nonnulli qui de Gallicis rebus historias conscripserunt, non dubitarunt posteris significare Rolandum Caroli illius magni sororis filium, verum certe bellica gloria omnique fortitudine nobillissimum, post ingentem Hispanorum cædem prope Pyrenæi saltus juga, ubi insidiæ ab hoste collocatæ fuerint, siti miserrime extinctum. Inde nostri intolerabili siti et immiti volentes significare se torqueri, facete aiunt “Rolandi morte se perire.”—John de la Bruiere Champier, De Cibaria, xvi. 5.

Roland (The Roman). Sicinius Dentātus is so called by Niebuhr. He is not unfrequently called “The Roman Achillês” (put to death B.C. 450).

Roland Blake. Hero of a war-novel of the same name.—Silas Weir Mitchell, M.D. (1886).

Roland and Oliver, the two most famous of the twelve paladins of Charlemagne. To give a “Roland for an Oliver” is to give tit for tat, to give another as good a drubbing as you receive.

Roland de Vaux (Sir), baron of Triermain, who wakes Gyneth from her long sleep of 500 years, and marries her.—Sir W. Scott, Bridal of Triermain (1813).

Rolando (Signor), a common railer against women, but brave, of a “happy wit and independent spirit.” Rolando swore to marry no woman, but fell in love with Zam´ora, and married her, declaring “that she was no woman, but an angel.”—J. Tobin, The Honeymoon (1804).

The resemblance between Rolando and Benedick will instantly occur to the mind.

Rolandseck Tower, opposite the Drachenfels. Roland was engaged to Aude, daughter of Sir Gerard and Lady Guibourg; but the lady, being told that Roland had been slain by Angoulaffre, the Saracen, retired to a convent. The paladin returned home full of glory, having slain the Saracen, and when he heard that his lady-love had taken the veil, he built Rolandseck Castle, which overlooks the convent, that he might at least see the lady to whom he could never be united. After the death of Aude, Roland “sought the battle-field again, and fell at Roncevall.”—Campbell, The Brave Roland.

Roldan, “El encantado,” Roldan made invulnerable by enchantment. The cleft “Roldan,” in the summit of a high mountain in the kingdom of Valencia, was so called because it was made by a single back-stroke of Roldan’s sword. The character is in two Spanish romances, authors unknown.—Bernardo del Carpio and Roncesvalles.

This book [Rinaldo de Montalban], and all others written on French matters, shall be deposited in some dry place ... except one called Bernardo del Carpio, and another called Roncesvalles, which shall certainly accompany the rest on the bonfire.—Cervantes, Don Quixote, I. i. 6 (1605).

Rolla, kinsman of the Inca Atali´ba, and the idol of the army. “In war a tiger chafed by the hunters’ spears; in peace more gentle than the unweaned lamb” (act i. 1). A firm friend and most generous foe. Rolla is wounded in his attempt to rescue the infant child of Alonzo from the Spaniards, and dies. His grand funeral procession terminates the drama.—Sheridan, Pizarro (altered from Kotzebue, 1799).

Rolleston (General), father of Helen, in Foul Play, by Charles Reade.

Rollo, duke of Normandy, called “The Bloody Brother.” He caused the death of his brother, Otto, and slew several others, some out of mere wantonness.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Bloody Brother (1639).

Rollo, boy who is the hero of Jacob Abbott’s celebrated and delightful “Rollo Books,” embracing Rollo Learning to Read, Rollo Learning to Work, Rollo at School, Rollo’s Vacation, etc., etc. (1840-1857).

Roman (The), Jean Dumont, the French painter, Le Romain (1700-1781).

Stephen Picart, the French engraver, Le Romain (1631-1721).

Giulio Pippi, called Giulio Romano (1492-1546).

Adrian von Roomen, mathematician, Adriānus Romānus (1561-1615).

Roman Achillês, Sicinius Dentātus (slain R.C. 450).

Roman Brevity. Cæsar imitated laconic brevity when he announced to Amintius his victory at Zela, in Asia Minor, over Pharna´cês, son of Mithridatês; Veni, vidi, vici.

Poins. I will imitate the honorable Roman in brevity.—Shakespeare, 2 Henry IV. act ii. sc. 2 (1598).

Sir Charles Napier is credited with a far more laconic despatch, on making himself master of Scinde, in 1843. Taking possession of Hyderabad, and outflanking Shere Mohammed by a series of most brilliant manœuvres, he is said to have written home this punning despatch: Peccāvi (“I have sinned” [Scinde]).

Roman Father (The), Horatius, father of the Horatii and of Horatia. The story of the tragedy is the well-known Roman legend about the Horatii and Curiatii. Horatius rejoices that his three sons have been selected to represent Rome, and sinks the affection of the father in love for his country. Horatia is the betrothed of Caius Curiatius, but is also beloved by Valerius, and when the Curiatii are selected to oppose her three brothers, she sends Valerius to him with a scarf, to induce him to forego the fight. Caius declines, and is slain. Horatia is distracted; they take from her every instrument of death, and therefore she resolves to provoke her surviving brother, Publius, to kill her. Meeting him in his triumph, she rebukes him for murdering her lover, scoffs at his “patriotism,” and Publius kills her. Horatius now resigns Publius to execution for murder, but the king and Roman people rescue him.—W. Whitehead (1741).